LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- Highlighted by CFL draft pick Sage Doxtater and running back/returner Juwuan Price, the NM State football program placed five players on the Phill Steele All-Independent teams the publication announced Tuesday.

Doxtater (OL) earns his second straight Phill Steele honor, as the tackle was a second team selection last summer, while Price (KR) earns the first honor of his young Aggies career.

The duo are the first set of Aggies to earn first team All-Independent honors since Jason Huntley (RB), Brian Trujillo (OL), Javahn Fergurson (LB) and Payton Theisler (punter) were named post season first team All-Independent selections back in 2019.

"We have a really talented team in 2021, as is evident by the five All-Independent selections we received," head coach Doug Martin said. "But I also feel that we have five or six more guys that people have yet to see that are capable of this honor after the season."  

One of the premier left tackles in the sport, Doxtater returns for his fifth and final season with the Aggies. A stalwart on the offensive line, the Canadian has made 36 starts during his career. The Ontario native was drafted with the 12^th overall pick of the CFL Draft last month, and is slated to be a potential NFL Draft pick next spring.

One of the biggest standouts during the Aggies spring season, Price looks to build on an impressive spring that saw the running back rush for 196 yards on 33 carries. The Arizona product however really made his mark in the return game, as Price recorded 228 return yards on seven attempts (32.6 avg) including a 94-yard touchdown return against Tarleton back on Feb. 21. The return was the Aggies first score of the 2021 season.  

Center Eli Johnson (OL), Trevor Brohard (LB) and O'Maury Samuels (RB) round out the Aggies five preseason selections.
A transfer from Ole Miss, Johnson joins the Aggies after appearing in 16 games for the Rebels throughout his career. Johnson started and played all 12 contests for Ole Miss in 2019, and allowed just one sack in 377 pass blocking situations. The center transferred prior to the 2020 season and was not eligible for the Aggies during the spring.

NM State's fourth honoree, Brohard, will look to build off an extremely successful spring season. The Los Lunas native recorded 16 tackles during the two games including a career-high 11-tackle performance against Tarleton (Feb. 21), the first double-digit tackle game of his career. In that contest Brohard also recorded his first career sack and two tackles-for-loss.

The Aggies fifth and final honoree, Samuels, will look to make a big impact in his first eligible season. Samuels transferred to NM State from Michigan prior to the 2019 season and was forced to sit out the season due to NCAA transfer rules. The former four-star prospect and Los Lunas standout missed both of the Aggies spring contests due to injury. Samuels rushed for over 4,000 yards (4,306) and 50 touchdowns during his high school career.

The Aggies open the 2021 campaign on Saturday Aug. 28 with the Battle of I-10 against UTEP. Season tickets for the 2021 Aggies season are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Pan Am Center ticket office at 575-646-1420 or by visiting the NMSU Ticketmaster page. The 2021 slate includes exciting home matchups against rival UTEP (Aug. 28), South Carolina St (Sept. 18), Hawaii (Sept. 25), Utah State (Nov. 6) and UMass (Nov. 27).

Fans who renew or purchase their season tickets by July 1 will receive a replica Aggies football helmet.

PHIL STEELE ALL-INDEPENDENT TEAMS:
Offense:
QB : Malik Willis, Liberty; Jack Coan, Notre Dame
RB Kyren Williams, Notre Dame; Jakobi Buchanan, Army West Point
RB Kevin Mensah, Connecticut; Joshua Mack, Liberty
RB Tyler Allgeier, BYU; O'Maury Samuels, New Mexico St
WR Cameron Ross, Connecticut; DJ Stubbs, Liberty
WR Gunner Romney, BYU; Avery Davis, Notre Dame
TE Isaac Rex, BYU; Johnny Huntley, Liberty
TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame; Josiah Johnson, Massachusetts
C James Empey, BYU; Eli Johnson, New Mexico St
OG Cain Madden, Notre Dame; Clark Barrington, BYU
OG Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame; Brendan Schlittler, Liberty
OT Sage Doxtater, New Mexico St; Connor Finucane, Army West Point
OT Tristan Schultz, Liberty; Ryan Van Demark, Connecticut

Defense:
DE Durrell Johnson, Liberty; Avien Peah, Massachusetts
DT Nolan Cockrill, Army West Point; Ralfs Rusins, Liberty
DT Kurt Hinish, Notre Dame; Elijah James, Liberty
DE Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, Notre Dame; TreShaun Clark, Liberty
LB Drew White, Notre Dame; Andre Carter, Army West Point
LB Arik Smith, Army West Point; Trevor Brohard, New Mexico St
LB Keenan Pili, BYU; Omar Fortt, Connecticut
LB Payton Wilgar, BYU; Jack Kiser, Notre Dame
CB Marcus Haskins, Liberty; Clarence Lewis, Notre Dame
CB Jabari Moore, Army West Point; Te'Rai Powell, Massachusetts
S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame; Chaz Ah You, BYU
S Cedrick Cunningham, Army West Point; Javon Scruggs, Liberty

Special Teams:
K Jake Oldroyd, BYU; Alex Barbir, Liberty
P Zach Harding, Army West Point; Ryan Rehkow, BYU
KR Juwaun Price, New Mexico St; Shedro Louis, Liberty
PR Demario Douglas, Liberty; Tyrell Robinson, Army West Point
LS Evan Deckers, Massachusetts; Austin Mock, Liberty

++ NM STATE ++